While the Whistler Film Festival always offers up an impressive
roster of independent cinematic offerings to the film-loving public, this year,
organizers are focusing on the industry events.
Angela Heck, the manager of the Whistler Film Festival’s
Filmmaker Forum, said this year, there is a very deliberate shift towards
strengthening the industry aspect of the event.
This is the eighth year for the annual festival, which offers
up screenings of some of the year’s top independent films to the movie-loving
public, alongside seminars, meetings and other events geared towards members of
the filmmaking industry.
“People who are aspiring filmmakers, people who have projects
in the works, who are at different levels in their careers, as well,” she
explained.
Basically, the WFF is a great networking opportunity for
novice, midlevel and senior filmmakers and producers.
“That’s really the primary focus of the festival, is because
it’s small, because it’s intimate, you have access to people that you wouldn’t
have access to at a bigger festival,” Heck said.
Last year, the WFF created an environment that fostered some
big, new relationships. And this year, they’re hoping that trend continues.
“We’re hoping that a lot more business gets done at the
festival and deals are signed, and there were some pretty significant ones last
year,” Heck said.
Organizers released the schedule for the Filmmaker Forum last
week, and this year, many of the events again focus on creating networking
opportunities through round table discussions and one-on-one meetings scheduled
through the festival.
The forum kicks off with Pitch Fest West, which gives people a
chance to see what filmmakers are pitching and how their ideas are received by
editors and distributors. Then, they’re offering a master class with a master
of the genre to discuss decision-making in the production and creative aspects.
Another popular event is DOC Talk, which explores documentary production. There
is also a new focus on how new media is changing the face of the industry,
which is embodied by the tag phrase, “new terrain.”
“The new media aspect will really be quite large at this year’s
festival,” Heck said.
There’s also a strong focus on making connections outside of
Canada, with some big names making the trip to Whistler for the festival,
including Amy Beecroft of GreenStreet Films International, Mark Durand, senior
director of ESPN Films, and many other key players from the Los Angeles
industry.
“It’s not just about the Canadian industry, but how can we
reach across our borders in various ways,” Heck explained.
The Filmmaker Forum has naturally grown and evolved as the WFF
gains a solid reputation within the local, national and international
filmmaking industry.
“Whistler does have an amazing reputation in the industry,”
Heck added, “We were all at the Toronto Film Festival earlier in September, and
everywhere you go, it’s on people’s lips.”
The WFF takes place from Dec. 4 to 7. To view the schedule of
events, visit www.whistlerfilmfestival.com.
Spooky stories
With Halloween just around the corner, the Whistler Public Library is offering an eerie twist on traditional story time this week.
They’re offering a special Halloween story time in the Burrow, complete with books, songs, rhymes and a craft that fit in with the haunting holiday theme. Costumes are encouraged, and there is room for 20 children to join in the fun.
Storytime takes place from 3 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday,
Oct. 25, and the event is suitable for children ages three to five years. While
it’s free to participate, parents are asked to contact Libby at WPL to
pre-register. Call 604-935-8436 or e-mail
[email protected]
.
Songs in the Key of EEEK!
The Whistler Children’s Chorus is also getting into the spirit
of things this week, with a special Halloween performance on Sunday, Oct. 26.
This local children’s choir is made up of 60 performers who
range in age from six to 17 years of age — a junior choir for Grades 1 to
3, an intermediate choir for Grades 4 to 7, and a youth choir for Grades 8 to
12.
The Children’s Chorus also has a workshop with composer
Francois Houle planned for Oct. 29, and a concert with entertainer Norman Foote
on the horizon in late November. They will also be participating in the
Remembrance Day ceremony at the Whistler Firehall on Nov. 11.
For the upcoming Halloween-themed performance being held this
coming weekend, choir members will be in costume, and audience members are also
encouraged to don their all hallow’s eve attire a bit early. The concert is
free, and takes place at 7 p.m. at Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church.
Finally, don’t forget…
This week is a great time to have your thoughts and ideas about
the local arts sector heard. The Whistler Arts Council is hosting their second
artists’ meeting tonight (Thursday, Oct. 23). They’re asking members of the
arts community to come out, have a drink and a chat, and share their thoughts
and concerns about the sector. The meeting will run from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at
the Alta Lake Station House.
And on Tuesday, Oct. 28, the arts, culture and heritage community is hosting an all-candidates meeting from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at MY Millennium Place to find out where municipal candidates stand on arts issues.